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SITES
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Huelva, Spain Insects Little is currently known of the insects and other invertebrates on and around the Huelva site and furthers surveys, especially in the spring and autumn, would greatly increase the number of species known to occur. As yet only five species of butterflies have been identified on the site, Small White (Pieris rapae), Bath White (Pontia daplidice), Painted Lady (Cynthia cardui), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) and Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus). This is a very small proportion of those species known to occur in Andalusia and it is certain that butterflies are under recorded on the Tioxide site. A number of individuals that were almost certainly Common Tiger Blue (Tarucus theophrastus) were also found. This species has been little studied and is very uncommon in Europe being confined to the extreme south of Spain. Its presence on the Tioxide site would be very interesting and requires confirmation during the spring. The food plant of the species is Christ's thorn (Zizyphus sp.) and the presence of this shrub on the site also requires confirmation. Dragonflies are abundant on the Huelva site but more work is required to identify all of the species present. The large Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) appears to be quite common, as does the Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea). This handsome deep red species has a wide distribution ranging from southern Europe through Asia and Africa. C. erythraea also occurs on the Tioxide sites in Italy and Malaysia. Other dragonflies known from the Huelva site include Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombei) and Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum). Another insect occurring on the site is very distinctive Nemoptera
bipennis, a relative of the ant-lions. With its characteristically
long ribbon-like back wings the European distribution of this exotic
looking insect is restricted to Iberia, although two similar species
are found in southeast Europe.
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